A computer question please :)

[rolley]

Hello, currently I have a pentium 4 3.2 processor with 2 gig ram ..
I have Cubase 4 and have Trilogy/Synthogy Ivory/Fxpansion BFD along with 2-UAD pci cards. My question is I always run out of memory and cannot run all plugs at once. If I upgrade to the new dual core E6600 or even upgrade to just maybe the pentium D , with new mobo , and the newer ram, will this help me at all?? I want to be able to change sounds etcc during the song process. the way it is now, I cannot. Also, would I need to go with 4gig ram or would that not matter as much.. I am sorry if this is a stupid question, but I am not a computer expert by any means at all. thanks for any help

 

[Akis]

If you're running out of memory, you need more RAM.

 

[rolley]

Okay, sorry. Also the cpu meter is way up there also.. I ran a test last night with BFD/Trilogy/Halion2 (Cubase 4) .. It was spiking/crackling. I could not even load Synthogy Ivory. Now, I may be asking too much anyway. I have just recently reformatted and done all the windows tweaks, so that is why I kinda was asking if maybe a upgrade would work.. Sorry for not being to clear
I can run, lets say BFD with no problems at all by itself etcc.. Also audio tracks are no problem at all..

 

[imdrecordings]

Okay, sorry. Also the cpu meter is way up there also.. I ran a test last night with BFD/Trilogy/Halion2 (Cubase 4) .. It was spiking/crackling. I could not even load Synthogy Ivory. Now, I may be asking too much anyway. I have just recently reformatted and done all the windows tweaks, so that is why I kinda was asking if maybe a upgrade would work.. Sorry for not being to clear
I can run, lets say BFD with no problems at all by itself etcc.. Also audio tracks are no problem at all..

Have you switching XP to Background tasks or gone through the list of edits on
musicxp.net? http://musicxp.net/ IRQ issues?
What about Drivers... everything up to date?
Sorry if this is a typical response, but it might just be an easy fix. Try using the *Freeze* function in Cubase... it's a life saver. I have all kinds of suggestions to fine to a PC with XP.... those are the obvious ones.

 

[Drammy]

Hello, currently I have a pentium 4 3.2 processor with 2 gig ram ..
I have Cubase 4 and have Trilogy/Synthogy Ivory/Fxpansion BFD along with 2-UAD pci cards. My question is I always run out of memory and cannot run all plugs at once. If I upgrade to the new dual core E6600 or even upgrade to just maybe the pentium D , with new mobo , and the newer ram, will this help me at all?? I want to be able to change sounds etcc during the song process. the way it is now, I cannot. Also, would I need to go with 4gig ram or would that not matter as much.. I am sorry if this is a stupid question, but I am not a computer expert by any means at all. thanks for any help

Hi rolley,

I find it quite surprising that you run out of memory with those plugs (although I don't own BFD so not too sure how much this uses).

Have you checked TaskManager to see how much memory is being used and by which applications?

Upgrading will help, that is always the case, BUT if you are running any OS other than Server 2003, Windows XP64 or Vista then you will not be able to make use of the 4Gig RAM anyway, there are limitations with XP that allow a max of around 3.

I still feel there is something more fundamentally wrong with your PC though...

Do you any Virus Checking software installed?

How about Windows Defender or other Spyware software?

How many apps do you have starting up unnecessarily on boot?

Have you tested your memory? There is a freeware app called memtest86 (check it out here) which I would recommend you leave running on your PC for a day or two. If it reports any errors then I would ensure that you have got the correct memory for your motherboard (PS. what memory are you using?)


Drammy

 

[rolley]

Thanks alot for the replies. And not being hard on me Yes I have done all the tweaks (most from musicxp).. Also, I dont have this computer hooked to the net, and have ran a virus scan too make sure. All is okay..
Thanks for the 4gig answer. Last night ctrl/alt/dlt and checked my ram. I was at 1.6 with BFD/Ultra Focus/Trilogy.. Now, my fault, but I have the snare and kick doubled(samples). This, no doubt raised my ram alone. I have no clue why I havent used the FREEZE yet .. Would getting a more powerful P4 processor, or more ram pc4200 make that much difference, or would it be so small it really would not matter?? I cant even think about loading Synthogy Ivory. Of course If I freeze the BFd, all should be well anyway. Again, thanks so much for everyones help. Thanks,,

 

[saemskin]

Keep in mind that XP only allocates 2 GB for an application. There is a way to trick your os into recognising 3 GB. The description is specific to FLstudio and is unstable afaik, but it does work.

.....................................................
spyro wrote :

I just want to share my experience while using WinXP 32bit and 4gb RAM + FL

As you mey know, XPx86 can only see (address) 3.2gb out of 4gb (in 64bit XP you can see the full 4gb)...this depends upon the MOBO and RAM type...sometimes it can be 3.6...sometimes 2.2 as I've read in different forums.

That doesn't mean XP is not using the rest, which is assigned for system busses, video card etc, and XP system.

Now some facts:

- The system needs to run in \"Physical Address Extension\" (PAE) Mode to see 3.2gb

- You need to add the /3GB switch in boot.ini

- You need to patch the app (FL in this case) to be \"Large Adress Aware\" (don't worry if this sounds too technical)


In order to allow FL to see more than 2gb you need to do this:

1) Go to the system properties applet and see if it says \"Physical Address Extension\" (PAE)

2) Open the \"boot.ini\" file in C: and add \"/3GB\" (also add /PAE if sys properties doesn't show PAE) REBOOT!

3) MAKE A COPY OF FL.exe (just in case)

4) Now we need to patch FL, so we need to Download a command line app called \"EDITBIN\" (Google for it) and do the following:

Install EDITBIN: Just copy EDITBIN.EXE to C:\\windows\\system32 (or just c:\\windows)

Load the command interpreter and write \"EDITBIN -LARGEADDRESSAWARE x:\\path\\FL.exe\" (\"x:\\path\" is your FL folder installation)

On my system I wrote: \"EDITBIN.EXE -LARGEADDRESSAWARE d:\\audio\\FLStudio\\FL.exe\"

That should return:

Microsoft (R) COFF Binary File Editor Version 6.00.8168 (version could vary)
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp 1992-1998. All rights reserved.

Now if you run FL it should see 3gb

Enjoy! because after all, is not a waste to have 4gb RAM on your machine (as I initially thought). If you work with big projects and libraries I say go for it!

 

[Drammy]

Thanks alot for the replies. And not being hard on me Yes I have done all the tweaks (most from musicxp).. Also, I dont have this computer hooked to the net, and have ran a virus scan too make sure. All is okay..
Thanks for the 4gig answer. Last night ctrl/alt/dlt and checked my ram. I was at 1.6 with BFD/Ultra Focus/Trilogy.. Now, my fault, but I have the snare and kick doubled(samples). This, no doubt raised my ram alone. I have no clue why I havent used the FREEZE yet .. Would getting a more powerful P4 processor, or more ram pc4200 make that much difference, or would it be so small it really would not matter?? I cant even think about loading Synthogy Ivory. Of course If I freeze the BFd, all should be well anyway. Again, thanks so much for everyones help. Thanks,,

When I metnioned the Virus Scan - I meant have you got Virus scanning installed on the DAW?

If you have and you have things like on-access scanning - this will slow performance quite drastically! Same with Defender and other spywares - especially if you have virus scans scheduled at certain imes...

I have a system built around a Core 2 Duo E6600 and have no problems like the ones you are experiencing, so yes I guess it would help but I still think there is something more fundamental here!

 

[rolley]

Core 2 Duo E6600 Thats what I want LOL!! Okay, no I dont have any programs at all running. I did run avirus scan, then uninstalled it. I went to blkviper and even turned more junk off a while back. Stupid question. I tried the Freeze in Cubase4 and it did quiet the processor a bit, but I noticed the ram usage was the same. Is this correct?? I was hoping it would free the ram up. I guess BFD ,for example, still is loaded.. I really think my problem is more of a ram problem. I actually could live with the processor. I do have a second computer I could get fxteleport to help free up everything. I just wish I could do this without dragging another computer inot the process. Thanks again for all the help...

 

[rolley]

Uh, well I just noticed that system restore is monitoring all 3 hdrives!! I could have swore I turned this off.. I have no clue if this will help or not. I have Acronis True Image for backing up . This maybe will help. I will post back. Thanks

 

[rolley]

Okay, I just loaded BFD/Absynth3/Ultra Focus/Monologue(Cubase4)/Trilogy.. Made a quick musical.. Now the processor is at around 29 to 35% during the music and at 11% stopped.. That was a improvement!! I also had Uad La2a/Uad Cambridge also running. Now, the ram is at 1.45gb. I tried to load Synthogy Ivory, but it did not like that! Needs memory of course.

 

[Drammy]

I think there are currently issues with Cubase4 and Freeze not freeing samples properly - have you checked the option \"unload samples on Freeze\" (or something like that...)

Sounds like Synthology Ivory is the problem then. I just checked their website and here are some tips to reduce the memory usage:

» Turn off Release samples
» Turn off Soft samples
» Decrease Ivory's Buffer Size
» Choose a keyset with fewer dynamic levels

I would start with reducing Ivory's Buffer size...

When run in standalone, how much memory does it use? It must be a beast!

When it loads does it load a default sample set? Or does it load without any samples loaded?

 

[rolley]

Well, again thanks for your reply
1st, I just got EZdrummer and absolutely love this program. It ismore out of the box!! From what I can hear and tell, I will be using this now. I want to create music. I tend to spend WAY too much time fooling with sounds than writing and mixing a song.. Anyway my point. This will free up around 500megs !! So another BIG plus.. Ivory was around 1.1 gig ram when loaded. It is a hog.. I honestly wish I had not gotten it. I can play Ivory/EZdrummer/trilogy with no problems now. Again, I Really appreciate the help. It has helped me alot!! Thanks,,,